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Re: [AGA-sc] AGA History, circa 1990
- To: Aquatic Gardeners Association Board <aga-sc@thekrib.com>
- Subject: Re: [AGA-sc] AGA History, circa 1990
- From: "S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com>
- Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 07:50:02 -0800 (PST)
- Comment: DomainKeys? See http://antispam.yahoo.com/domainkeys
- Domainkey-signature: a=rsa-sha1; q=dns; c=nofws; s=s1024; d=yahoo.com; b=nK2/CnZ9pvwiLnROutuHbVD98R1EiOzKhRpAb45vG+hPr2VkeG/z2Nx1Estbm51OKbz73jyxxPvxTpdJ1jgorjxr8lp+3jAIi47Y/dLVKJ4r6jo4kXCV7+ySMB66kGtPBFfCLSgqC5F5sXX+Z65TyDnWpJd/8z5UP1obryusN5Y= ;
and here's a text version
--- Karen Randall <krandall@rdrcpa.biz> wrote:
> Hi Cheryl,
>
> For someone who is still not completely computer lierate,
> would you mind
> forwarding me Neil's attachment as a text file? I can't
> figer out how to
> get my fancy XP machine to open a Word Perfect file!<g>
>
> Karen
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cheryl Rogers" <cheryl@wilstream.com>
> To: "Aquatic Gardeners Association Board"
> <aga-sc@thekrib.com>
> Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 10:12 AM
> Subject: Re: [AGA-sc] AGA History, circa 1990
>
>
> > Dang, Neil, this is good stuff. I am mesmerized. The
> technical/computer
> > evolution alone is fascinating. You talk of 5.25 in
> floppy disks and being
> > able to communicate via modem as a new thing.
> >
> > And they *were* injecting CO2 back then. Cool.
> >
> > Cheryl
> >
> > nfrank@mindspring.com wrote:
> >> Hi all,
> >> Recently i noticed that you honored Dorothy and me
> will life memberships.
> >> Thanks for the recognition! I have since been
> thinking about the
> >> origins of the AGA and perused my computer for any
> relevant
> >> information.... and stumbled on electronic copies of
> letters i wrote in
> >> 1990 which describe the formation of the current AGA.
> They capture the
> >> discussions i had with Dorothy, Jare and others
> associated with the
> >> AAGA.... all via snail mail. The letters are packaged
> into one file and
> >> attached for the archives. I hope you find it
> interesting reading.
> >> Probably should be resubmitted to the AGA mgt list as
> well.
> >> Neil
> >>
> >> PS. I have been reading this off and on and see that
> the organization is
> >> doing very well. Keep up the good work!
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> AGA-sc mailing list
> >> AGA-sc@thekrib.com
> >> http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/aga-sc
> >
> > --
> > Cheryl Rogers, Membership
> > Aquatic Gardeners Association
> > http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org
> > _______________________________________________
> > AGA-sc mailing list
> > AGA-sc@thekrib.com
> > http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/aga-sc
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> AGA-sc mailing list
> AGA-sc@thekrib.com
> http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/aga-sc
>
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
May 14, 1990
Aquascaping, Ltd. USA
Biotype Life Support Systems
2100 Pacheco Street
Suite 312
Concord, CA 94520
Dear Aquascapers,
As the new President of the American Aquatic Gardeners Association, I am
in the process of reviving this national organization which has been somewhat
inactive for the past 18 months. After seeing your advertisement in the June
1990 issue of FAMA, I decided that I must contact you to see how your company
might benefit our organization and visa versa.
Can you please provide me with some information about your company. In
your ad, you indicate that technical publications and journals are available.
A listing of these publications for future inclusion in the AAGA library would
be appreciated. I enclose a membership flier for your consideration.
Sincerely, Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 848-3763
April 16, 1990
BOD Members of the
American Aquatic Gardeners Association
Dear board members,
I hope that this letter finds you and your families well.
With this letter I am formally announcing that I have volunteered to take
charge of the AAGA in order to get our organization working again and am
requesting your approval and authorization for needed action.
I recently telephoned Dick Van Hyfte in order to tell him of my intentions
and to find out what has been happening. Dick is very excited at the prospect
of reviving AAGA, and basically told me that things have in limbo since the
last flurry of board correspondence in 1988, although he says that he and his
wife have been able to get the records in reasonably good order. Dick has
provided me with the AAGA bank and membership statements and it appears that we
have a good foundation on which to rebuild. We have $1835.66 in the treasury
and 190 member on the most recent roster.
Dick has already given me his unconditional support and would be willing
to serve the organization in a limited but extremely important supporting role.
Specifically, he could act as Treasurer for a few months, until a replacement
can be installed and he could continue to process mail from the current P.O.
Box and forward information to a new membership chair. Dick has also
reiterated his interest in using his personal copy machine to do the
reproduction of The Aquatic Gardener, at his cost of approximately 2.5 cents
per page. This would enable us to produce a high quality product at a total
cost of under 30 cents per issue.
In order for our organization to be revived, it is obvious that we will
need a strong and committed board. Therefore, I also requesting that you
identify your interest in continuing to a member of the BOD and to what
additional extent you are willing to be part of the AAGA team. We must rebuild
the organizational structure by reestablishing the key positions: Membership
chair, Treasurer, Editor, ... etc. We either need volunteers to fill these
positions or at least volunteers to be part of a search committee to accomplish
the same. The position of editor will be critical, because without TAG, I
don't think we can re-establish our credibility.
If I receive your approval to be President, and if we still have a
committed BOD, I will send a letter to all "existing" committee chairs to
inform them of our intentions and I will request that they also commit to
continue to be part of our team. It would also be very useful if the BOD could
approve an allocation of a limited amount of money to cover the expense of
phone calls, since this form of communication with potential workers would be
extremely valuable at this point in time. (With my "Prime Time MCI" phone
service, I can place calls within the continental US for 10 cents a minute on
weekends and after 5 pm weekdays. I think that an annual allocation of $20-25.
for the President should be sufficient.) As soon as I determine the status of
the infrastructure, I will outline a plan of action for the board's approval.
I am interested in getting things moving as soon as possible. Once we
re-establish the infrastructure, one of my next short-term goals is to let our
"membership" know that their organization does exist and is alive and well. To
regain their trust, we must resume written communication. Ideally, the first
mailing should be accompanied with the next issue of TAG. Since the current
membership rooster includes many new names, I think the next issue(s) of TAG
could be based on reprint material from the early issues. This could solve the
problem of not having sufficient original with which to work. We could also
rationalize this approach if the "reprints" were of a higher reproduction
quality. Another next step would be to publish an announcement or status
report in the commercial aquarium magazines. I could contact Don Dewey, for
example, and ask that he publish a letter to the editor or permit us to publish
a short article or suitable notice.
There are many outstanding issues that require board input and resolution.
I am anxious to receive a response from each of you on the requests and ideas
that I have outlined above, and welcome your input regarding the needed plan of
action and additional ideas regarding the future of the AAGA. I would
appreciate a response by April 30.
Sincerely,
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 848-3763
May 14, 1990
Dear Dale,
After almost two years of inaction from the American Aquatic Gardeners
Association, I stepped forward and volunteered to be an interim president with
the hope of reviving the organization. I initially approached Dick Van Hyfte
with the idea, and after receiving his endorsement, I asked for and received
approval from the current (i.e. 1988) BOD.
Since you were one of the early active members and a previous member of
the BOD, I am writing to inform you of my intentions. I am also writing to
solicit your input and, most importantly, your support.
My immediate plans are to refill several key positions: editor, membership
and treasurer. Dick is very dedicated to the goals of AAGA, and despite his
continued workload problems that contributed to the club's inactivity, he is
willing to assume temporary responsibility of membership and treasurer. He
also volunteered to serve as the printer of The Aquatic Gardener, using his
personal office equipment and charging at his cost. However, in order for the
group to become fully functional, I must find some warm bodies to take on the
important jobs in a full time capacity. Are you still interested in AAGA and
would you be available to help with the revival of the AAGA?
It appears that we have a good foundation on which to rebuild. We have
$1835.66 in the treasury and 190 member on the most recent roster. Once we
re-establish the infrastructure, one of my next short-term goals is to let our
"membership" know that their organization does exist and is alive and well,
with renewed publication of TAG. There is much more that we can do, but we
need to rebuild slowly.
Please let me know what role you are willing to play in the rebuilding of
the AAGA. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
1988 Board of AAGA:
Joan Glascock, 3520 SW Falcon Street, Portland, OR 97219
Neil Frank, 6205 Lookout Loop, Raleigh, NC 27612
Ray Lucas, E 6715 Pinehurst Drive, Boston, NY 14025
Judy Marshall, 11 E. Morgan, Battle Creek, MI 49017
Lyle Marshall, 11 E. Morgan, Battle Creek, MI 49017
Jare Sausaman, 6804 N. 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19126
Dick Van Hyfte, Box 293, Minors Drive, Palo, IA 52324
Ron Wheeler, 49750 Martz Road, Belleville, MI 48111
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
May 20, 1990
Dear Joan,
I was sorry that we never connected two weeks ago when you passed through
North Carolina. I new that you had retired from the DEQ, because I phone you a
few weeks ago. I was enthused when I go your message. After receiving your
card, I phoned you in Virginia, when you were visiting up north. I am anxious
to speak to you about the AAGA.
I definitely need your help!! Perhaps together, we can decide if this
group is revivable. As I have already indicated, I have Dick's support and he
will be able to provide some organizational assistance. I was less successful
with the remainder of the "existing" board. Both Ron Wheeler and Ray Lucas
gave me their endorsement, but neither could commit to doing any work. I never
heard from Jare, who is usually not very communicative until the school year is
finished. I think that he would still stay involved, perhaps as Secretary and
Librarian. I have not heard from Judy or Lyle Marshall. Dick was not able to
tell me much about the Marshall's situation, except that Lyle was very sick 2
years ago. Because of this and because I don't know Judy, I am reluctant to
telephone. What do you know about this? I have also written Dale Speirs,
informing him about my intentions, in the hope that he may be able to be of
assistance.
I would like to re-establish three key positions: editor, membership and
treasury. Editor is probably the most difficult to fill, but also the most
important in order to revive the organization. I think editor may be equal in
importance to president. With someone else as president, I would even be
willing to be editor.
Once the key positions are pinned down, I think everything else will fall
into place. I believe that many people from our existing membership would
become available to take on other jobs and provide the needed contributions to
the organization. Unfortunately, I do not think it is best to write an open
letter to the membership and reveal the full extent of our organizational
problems. I would rather privately solicit the needed volunteers.
What would you be willing to do, and what are your feelings, in general.
Who do you think could be approached? I look forward to your response.
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
May 20, 1990
Dear Ron,
Since last month, I had hoped to hear from the "existing" AAGA board, and
establish a clear consensus of what we would be doing. I have not yet been
able to accomplish that. I am therefore notifying you about where we stand.
Ray Lucas has given me his endorsement, but is too busy with other fish
organizations to commit. Joan Glasscock has also given me her endorsement, but
has retired and is traveling. She said she could help, but I don't know with
what since I have not been able to get up with her. I have not received a
response from the Marshalls or Jare Sausaman. What do you know?
Before we can do anything with the organization, I must re-establish 3 key
positions: editor, membership and treasurer. In your last letter you
indicated that you may be able to line up some volunteers. Let me know if you
know anyone who can be approached.
Sincerely, Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
June 10, 1990
Dear Dorothy,
Jare Sausaman suggested that I write to you. You may recall that we met
briefly last summer at the International Cichlid Convention in Orlando, FL.
The reason that I am writing is in reference to the American Aquatic Gardeners
Association (AAGA). I can use your help.
As you are already well aware, this organization has been inactive for
approximately 18 months. The last issue of The Aquatic Gardener was dated
January 1989. The problems with the organization have been two-fold: Dick Van
Hyfte, the president, had job problems and could not attend to the
organization; Lyle Marshall, the editor, had become very sick. As you may also
know, Dick is also Treasurer and Membership Chair. No one seemed to be
interested in stepping forward to fill the needed shoes. I sincerely believe
that the organization is very important and needs revival.
Accordingly, I approached Dick and told him that I would attempt to revive
the organization. I did not know this was going to happen before I called, but
I found myself volunteering to be interim President. Dick was enthusiastic to
my proposal and offered to serve in a supporting role, including his
willingness to serve as temporary treasurer and membership. He sent me all of
his records. I contacted the most current (1988) board (Ron Wheeler, Joan
Glascock, Ray Lucas, Lyle and Judy Marshall, Jare Sausaman) and found that
most people were supportive and gave me their approval, but were too committed
in other organizations to take on a major job. However, Jare volunteered to
continue to be Secretary or to do something which would require similar work.
The reason that I am writing to you is that Jare thought that you would be
interested in playing a role in reviving AAGA. I know that you are very
interested in plants. I also understand that you have been quite involved in
aquarium organizations. I hope that you will consider helping with the revival
of AAGA. Perhaps, we should recast it as the IAGA, the International Aquatic
Gardeners Association.
My first priority is to re-establish the editorship of TAG. This is also
my most difficult task, because this is probably the most difficult job;
perhaps even more difficult than president. I myself would be willing to be
editor, if someone else would take on the coordinating job of president. Once
the editor is in place, the existing membership can be contacted together with
a new issue of TAG. This will be an important step in re-establishing our
credibility. The next steps will be to fill membership and treasurer.
Committees will fall into place. For example, Dale Speirs from Calgary said he
would be willing to chair a technical advisory committee.
Please get back to me if you are personally interested in being a part of
the AAGA (or IAGA) leadership or if you know of others who may be interested in
getting involved. Our most recent membership roster had 190 names. Our
treasury is in good shape. We just need some good people. I will be happy to
provide you will more details about the organization and what I think needs to
be done. I hope to hear from you soon.
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
USA
July 1, 1990
Dear Dorothy,
Thanks for responding so quickly and indicating an interest in helping.
As I indicated in my last letter, I must re-establish an executive board
(President, Membership and Treasurer) as well as an editor before the
organization can proceed. Based on Jare's recommendation, I felt that you
would be qualified to take on a lead position. I agree that manpower is a
problem and feel that those of us who are interested and willing must assume
the responsibility to take charge. Would you be interested in the Presidency
(permitting me to be editor), or at least being Co-President and temporary
membership chair. I think that I can talk Jare into being treasurer. (Since
the membership is mostly based in the USA, the treasurer must remain here, at
least for now). This would give us a good solid base upon which to re-build.
After the summer, I can enlist the help of Joan Glascock. She was previously
an active board member, is recently retired and has offered to help. (She is
doing some traveling this summer). Do you know of anyone else that we can
contact.
Are you planning to go to the ACA in Chicago or to the FAAS Convention. I
have not decided on either, although I am leaning more towards the latter. If
you are planning to attend either one, this may help me decide to also attend.
Regarding the time it takes to receive mail, I received your June 26
letter on June 30th. I can't understand why it took four days coming here,
while it took mine 15 days to get to you. Let me know how long this one takes.
If it takes more than a week, I will check with our postal service.
Sincerely, Neil
Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
July 28, 1990
Dear Robert,
Sorry that I did not write to you sooner to thank you for the article that
you submitted for the Aquatic Gardeners Association. Thanks. I have been busy
for the past few months trying to get AAGA organized and I think that I finally
secured enough key people to proceed. Three people will be running the
steering/reorgainization committee - Jare Sausaman, Dorothy Reimer and myself.
I have designated myself as the editor of the bulletin. We are shooting for a
formal startup with the next (first?) issue of the bulletin for January 1991.
I saw Ron Wheeler last week at the ACA convention in Chicago and he
mentioned your name. If you are interested in getting involved with the
publication in any way - submitting articles, helping with editing, etc., let
me know, I am definitely interested. In regard to the article that you
submitted, I would be interested in getting it on a 5.25" IBM compatible
floppy, either in ascii or Word Perfect format, if you have that capability.
Also, if you have any previously published publications, or know of any from
other authors that are worthy of reprint from club publications, I would be
interested.
Thanks again,
P.S. Do you have the Revision of the Genus Cryptocoryne by Rataj, 1975,
published in Chechoslovakia), and know how I could get a copy. Ditto for
Echinodorus. Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 848-3763
Mike Trz... August 24, 1990
Dear Mike,
I hope that you have had a nice summer. More and more, I hear people
talking about Delaware Aquatics, so it must be keeping you busy.
The last time we talked on the phone, we discussed AAGA. What did you
decide that you would be willing to do? Is rare and unusual species committee
chair still possible?
Dorothy Reimer, Jare Sausaman and I now represent the steering committee /
reorganization committee for the group. Dorothy is membership, Jare is
Treasurer and I am editor. We are shooting for a January 1991 public
emergence. Do you have any outstanding expenses or income? If so, can you get
in touch with Jare.
As editor, I am compiling articles. Can you send me a copy of yours which
FAAS voted as the best plant article of the year, and any others that you think
are worthy of publication (either yours or written by others).
I can use your help on another matter. I am thinking about putting
together a cross reference table, linking plant names used in the hobby with
articles and pictures in the aquarium/aquatic plant books. The need for such a
table is attributed, in part, to the fact that there is not a single best plant
reference which is either complete or accurate. I am actually less concerned
over the latter and more concerned with "approximate" identification, for both
submerged and emersed forms. I suspect that you may have already looked into
this problem because of your plant business. For example, which books have a
picture of the melon sword, and is it submerged or emersed form. There may
also be some plants on your list which are not pictured at all! Let me know if
you have any information on the published pictures/articles on your listed
plants.
Finally, can you send me a price list that can be used to either order for
a shop or aquarium club. The group in Durham, NC has been ordering from you
and I would like to see the Raleigh group get more involved in plants. Another
useful point regarding your plant list, is the form of the plant. Although the
average hobbyist would not know what to do with the information, the
specialized plant person could benefit from knowing which of your plants are
available in submerged and which in emersed form. This will greatly help the
current confusion over plant IDs.
Sincerely,
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 848-3763
August 29, 1990
Lyle Marshall
11 E. Morgan
Battle Creek, MI 49017
Dear Lyle,
I have just spoken with Ron Wheeler, and I was happy to hear that you are
interested in staying involved in the Aquatic Gardeners Association. I tried
to find your phone number to call, but was told it is unlisted. Please write
or call and discuss with me to what extent you would like to be involved. I
would be very much interested, for example, in having you take care of the
Plant and Materials Listing. If you can participate on the board, that would
be great.
As Ron may have told you, much progress has bee made towards the revival
of the organization. When I last wrote to you and Judy several months ago, I
was asking for the "board's" approval to proceed as "temporary" president.
Since then, a committee of three (including myself) have become the
"steering/reorganization" committee for the organization. The committee
consists of Dorothy Reimer, who is also serving as membership chair; Jare
Sausaman, who is also serving as Treasurer; and myself, the editor. Dick is in
the process of transferring membership info and monies. We are shooting for a
January 1991 rebirth; I hope to get things going quickly, before I realize how
much work is ahead of me and change my mind!
As editor, I can certainly make use of all of the magazine materials that
you may have: back issues, unprinted articles, cover art, etc. If it would
not be too much trouble, I would really appreciate if you could arrange to send
these to me and I will reimburse you for your postage.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
September 18, 1990
Dear Dorothy,
So glad to hear from you today, and am particularly glad that you finally
received the stuff from Dick. I was starting to have my doubts again. I
called Dick the last weekend in August - around 3 weeks ago. He said that he
had not yet pulled "everything" together. I told him to not wait for
"everything." He said that he would send you something and other publication
related stuff to me, including the "archives" of which I had agreed to be
custodian two years ago. I have not received anything yet. I also asked Dick
to look into the status of our teeshirts and other sales item kept by Dennis
Sindlar, also of Eastern Iowa. So, far nothing. The rest of the letter also
contains some disappointment, but also discusses some positive developments.
I talked to Ron Wheeler recently, who had talked to Lyle Marshall as I
requested. Lyle apparently is homebound, but well enough, and is still very
interested in actively participating in a small way like doing the "plant and
materials" listing. I tried to call him, but after learning that he has an
unlisted number, I sent him a letter soliciting his support and requesting that
he send me available publication materials (cover art, etc.). Unfortunately,
it has been 2-3 weeks and I have not heard anything.
I talked to Jare this past weekend. He is supposed to be talking to Dick
about setting up the bank account this week. Jare promised to get back to me
this coming weekend to see where we are with the finances. Until I received
your letter, I was becoming pessimistic about the whole deal. Now, I am
expecting positive news from Jare.
Allow me to respond to several points you raise in your note. First of
all, yes, you can telephone me. My number is 919-848-3763. I think that a
phone call can really be helpful. I also think that we can efficiently resolve
some of the detailed decisions by establishing a "round-robin" letter, among
Jare, yourself and I. The way it may work is that I give you my ideas on
specific topics or things that I think should be done. You comment, make
changes, additions, etc. and pass along to Jare for his input. Assuming that
the three of us continue to be as agreeable as we have so far, we should end up
with a good final product from which we can establish a consensus decision.
For example, you send the membership form to me for comment, I pass along to
jare, then you finalize. Each of us would be responsible to make the final
decision on different things.
Regarding another point in your letter - out of country memberships - I
definitely think that US, Canada and Mexico should be equal at $15.00 (even
though the postage costs will be higher sending the magazine to Canada). Other
countries is another matter. Assuming that the magazine will be 2 ounces, the
per issue postage for within US, Canada and Mexico will be $0.45, .52, .45,
respectively. For other countries, it will be $1.80. This would be an
increase of $5.40 for 4 issues and $8.10 for 6 issues. I checked the ACA dues,
and they charge $15 for US/Canada/Mexico and $22.50 for other (BB only) and
32.50 for BB and TP. I would suggest $25 for TAG (the aquatic gardener,
assuming that we keep that name), and $28.00 for all mailings (on the
assumption that the other mailings would be one page in an envelope which would
cost an additional $.50 per item). If you agree, use these rates.
Let's talk about the name. I would like to change it to Aquatic Gardener's
Association. The only thing that might limit our ability to change it, is the
by-laws. I say that unless Jare says that the by-laws would be a problem on
this matter, we should go ahead and change it. By the way, did you notice that
FAMA had removed the listing - did you make that change? Of course, if the
t-shirts materialize, the old name would not be applicable; but I don't think
that is a big deal.
Remember that young fellow, Vinny, we met at the ACA convention. I have been in
contact with him, through a computer network that I stumbled into. He
mentioned it at the convention and coincidentally, I met someone here in
Raleigh who got me into it. I have been able to send written messages to him
at the University of Florida through my computer at home (via a modem). The
nice thing is that there is not long distance charge. There are quite a few
plant enthusiasts throughout the US, Canada and elsewhere who are on this
network. Vinny is in the process of lining up all sorts of articles, dealing
with lighting, CO2, fertilization and other technology topics. There are many
schools of thought out there. Some are hooked on the "Dupla", high cost, high
technology methods, others are more of the "Dutch" aquaria school. There is
also "news" that people post. As my time permits, I have been reading some of
the postings. Some of the network users seem to know you. Just recently,
someone discussed the foolproof Dorothy Reimer method of growing plants. I
look forward to publishing information about the different methods and
providing some comparative analysis of the different approaches. I think that
it is easier to be a good cook than to write a good cookbook; with our
organization, we will give people the opportunity to share their secret recipes.
I talked to Trzonkowky of Delaware and asked if he wanted to participate as
before and followed up with a formal letter, but he has not yet responded. I
will probably not pursue this one any further myself. I will leave this one to
you and Jare - maybe you will have more success.
In closing , let me list some of the things (not necessarily in this order)
that we need to address over the next month inorder to meet our goal of a
January 1991 revival together with an issue of the publication.
1. Transfer the bank account to Philadelphia - so we will have operating
capital.
2. Prepare membership form - which you have started
3. Send one letter to old members, a different one to ones who have never
received anything, telling each group what is coming (maybe this can wait until
Nov or so)_
4. Send notice/ad to FAMA with your mailing address by mid Oct to appear in
Dec/Jan issue. Ditto for TFH and Aquarium Fish. We should also prepare a
brief letter to appear at the same time.
5. Establish tentative budget for operating expenses, for example giving you
and I money for doing membership and the magazine.
6. Incorporation - Can you look into this one at a local university; I think
that we should do it, but first we should revise the
7. Bylaws - I would hate to tackle this one - it is not something I know how
to approach. Can we just redraft among the 3 of us (and together with Dick and
the board), or do we have to get the "membership" to approve changes.
8. Formalize the new board. One thing that is important is to figure out the
correct mechanism to get you on the board; or is that even important, i.e. Do
you have to be on the board to chair membership and to participate on a
reorganization committee? (If you haven't figured it out yet, I am not a
stickler for formalities).
9. Finalize decision on the name of the organization, the name of the magazine
(or should we call it a journal) and other details about the publication and
the schedule (bimonthly or quarterly). I will also need input, particularly
from Jare, on details like volume and issue numbering convention.
I must close now. I said more than I thought I would at this sitting. One
final thing, can you send me one of those slick Canadian publications that you
brought to the ACA.
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
September 19, 1990
Dear Joan,
I hope that you have been enjoying your retirement and that you may have
settled down enough to now participate in the revival of the Aquatic Gardeners
Association. Since I last wrote you, much progress has taken place over the
summer.
First, I have enlisted the support of Dorothy Reimer and Jare Sausaman.
Dorothy, as you know, is quite active with plants in Canada and with CAOAC.
Together with myself, we are serving as a steering/re-organization committee
for the group. With this structure, I have changed my prior position of
temporary president to the editor. Dorothy is Membership Chair and Jare is
Treasurer.
You are probably asking: why do we need a treasurer without a treasury?
The answer is: Dick has transferred the AAGA account to Philadelphia! Dick has
also transferred all membership applications to Dorothy, together with uncashed
money orders, etc.
The re-organization committee is now preparing letters to go the old and
new members, publicity for national magazines and I am working towards a
January 1990 issue of the magazine.
There are still lots of details to work out - the name is one. We may be
dropping the first "A", and calling the group Aquatic Gardeners Association
(AGA). Revising the by-lays and incorporation are other possibilities.
Ron Wheeler has been in contact with Lyle Marshall. Although Lyle is
homebound, he is apparently interested in participating, say as the plant and
materials listing coordinator. I have written Lyle about a month ago, but
unfortunately, I have not yet received a response. I also asked him for all
publication materials (cover art, unpublished articles, etc).
Get in touch with me when you can. Any comments, advice and or assistance
are welcome.
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 1, 1990
Dear Dale,
When I last wrote to you in late Spring, I was struggling in my efforts to
revive the AAGA. Now I can happily report to you that the organization is
solidly on its way to revival.
Over the summer, I have received the important support of Dorothy Reimer,
as membership chair; and of Jare Sausaman, as Treasurer. The three of us are
now serving as the steering/re-organization committee. With this strong base,
we are flying without a President. Accordingly, I have become the editor for
the group's publication.
In your last letter, you indicated that you would be willing to contribute
articles to TAG. I am currently pulling together material for the magazine. I
can use your articles now. Please send me any new material you choose to
submit, as well as appropriate plant-related articles that you have previously
written for a local club, or other publications. Similarly, if you have copies
of good reprint material by other authors, please send these as well.
One source of reprint material that Jare has suggested is articles from
early aquarium literature, say from the 1920's - 1950's, from Innes Aquarium,
Aquatic Life, Aquarium Bulletin, etc. If you are interested in helping with
this effort or have any comments, please let me know.
The steering committee has set an unofficial date of January 1991 for the
revival of Aquatic Gardeners. Over the next month or so, formal announcements
and letters to the membership should be going out (hopefully!).
In your last letter, you also asked about your role with the Technical
Advisory Committee. For now, I would like this committee to concentrate on
literature (answering requests, reviewing articles for publication, etc), and
as such, your offer to continue as chair is gratefully accepted. I agree that
plant IDs can be assigned to an "American," and can also wait until the
organization gets back on its feet.
The reason I used quotes above, is because there is discussion among the
steering committee to change the name of the organization to AGA - Aquatic
Gardeners Association. Although America can refer to the U.S., Canada, Mexico,
etc., more often it does not. Therefore to recognize the large participation
of the group's northern members, the committee would like to drop the word
America. We will probably do this if administrative problems do not emerge,
such as with transferring the bank account.
In closing, I would like to shift to another subject - aquarium literature
collecting. In the past, I have seen your want lists in CAL. Are you still
looking for TFH, BB and other magazines. I have several of the issues that you
were looking for, and am always interested in trading for things that I don't
have. If you are still looking, let me know what you need and what duplicates
you have. I am still actively collecting both books and magazines; my main
interest still focuses on aquatic plants, although this has not constrained my
collecting.
Looking forward to your articles. Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 1, 1990
Dear Paul,
Remember the American Aquatic Gardeners Association? After almost two
years of inactivity, the organization is finally approaching revival!
In a month or two, you will be receiving a formal letter announcing the
re-birth of the organization. All past members in good standing will receive
automatic extensions of their membership, and be asked to continue their
support to and participation in the new organization.
I am writing to you because I will be the new editor of the group's
publication and I need your support. You were a significant contributor to The
Aquatic Gardener (TAG), and I hope that your interest with aquatic plants,
fertilization, CO2 injection, etc., have continued.
More importantly, I hope that you can continue to be a important
contributor to our publication. I am working towards a January 1991 revival of
the publication and can use articles for both the first and subsequent issues.
The preferred format is 5 1/2" floppy disc in either wordperfect or ascii
format. I can also currently receive information on Internet. If the latter
are not possible, I will eagerly accept articles as hard copy.
At this point, I am not soliciting articles on any particular topic, but
in the future I will be calling for papers in specific subject areas. If you
have previously submitted articles which were not published by Lyle Marshall,
could you possibly resubmit these again to me. Incidently, the visual quality
of the publication should be greatly improved.
Please continue to be an active supporter of Aquatic Gardening.
Sincerely,
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 1, 1990
Dear Jack,
Remember the American Aquatic Gardeners Association? After almost two
years of inactivity, the organization is finally approaching revival!
In a month or two, you will be receiving a formal letter announcing the
re-birth of the organization. All past members in good standing will receive
automatic extensions of their membership, and be asked to continue their
support to and participation in the new organization.
I am writing to you because I will be the new editor of the group's
publication and I need your support.
You have been an important contributor to the literature on aquatic plants
and I hope that you can be a contributor to our forthcoming publication. I am
working towards a January 1991 revival of the publication and can use articles
for both the first and subsequent issues. The preferred format is 5 1/2"
floppy disc in either wordperfect or ascii format. I can also currently
receive information on Internet. If the latter are not possible, I will
eagerly accept articles as hard copy. Unfortunately, I can not be as generous
as Don Dewey.
At this point, I am not soliciting articles on any particular topic, but
in the future I will be calling for papers in specific subject areas.
Please continue to be an active supporter of Aquatic Gardening.
Sincerely,
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 1, 1990
Dear Pat,
Remember the American Aquatic Gardeners Association? After almost two
years of inactivity, the organization is finally approaching revival!
In a month or two, you will be receiving a formal letter announcing the
re-birth of the organization. All past members in good standing will receive
automatic extensions of their membership, and be asked to continue their
support to and participation in the new organization.
I am writing to you because I will be the new editor of the group's
publication and I need your support.
You have been a past contributor to The Aquatic Gardener (TAG) and I hope
that you can continue be a contributor to our forthcoming publication. I am
working towards a January 1991 revival of the publication and can use articles
for both the first and subsequent issues. The preferred format is 5 1/2"
floppy disc in either wordperfect or ascii format. I can also currently
receive information on Internet. If the latter are not possible, I will
eagerly accept articles as hard copy.
At this point, I am not soliciting articles on any particular topic, but
in the future I will be calling for papers in specific subject areas.
Please continue to be an active supporter of Aquatic Gardening.
Sincerely,
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 1, 1990
Dear Bruce,
Thanks for your recent letter and your offer to help with the Aquatic
Gardeners Association.
The organization is now rapidly approaching revival. Dorothy Reimer is
the new membership chair and will soon have a membership application with which
new members can join. I will be the editor of the publication. Within the
next month or two, formal announcements will be made to all past members and
others (who we know of) who have unsuccessfully attempted to join in the last 2
years. The target date for the new organization is January 1991, together with
renewal of the publication.
Since you are obviously quite interested in joining, I suggest that you
submit the $15.00 application fee, made out to "Aquatic Gardeners Association"
to:
Dorothy Reimer
83 Cathcart St.
London, Ontario
CANADA N6C 3L9
If you have previously submitted a fee to Dick, this should be on its way
to Dorothy.
I also would like to take you up on your offer to help with the
organization. It is a great way to get involved. Can you tell me something
about yourself, indicating your background and special skills, so we can see
where you can best serve. It will be helpful if you describe any previous
organization experience (elected officer, committees, etc), especially with
aquarium societies; if you have a personal computer, tell me about your
experience with aquatic plants and with the aquarium hobby in general, and tell
me what you would be most interested in doing.
Sincerely, Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 11, 1990
Dear George,
Remember the American Aquatic Gardeners Association? After almost two
years of inactivity, the organization is finally approaching revival!
In a month or two, you will be receiving a formal letter announcing the
re-birth of the organization. All past members in good standing will receive
automatic extensions of their membership, and be asked to continue their
support to and participation in the new organization.
I am writing to you because I will be the new editor of the group's
publication and I need your support. The other two principle players are
Dorothy Reimer and Jare Sausaman.
You have been a past contributor to The Aquatic Gardener (TAG) and I hope
that you can continue be a contributor to our forthcoming publication. I am
working towards a January 1991 revival of the publication and can use articles
for both the first and subsequent issues. The preferred format is 5 1/2"
floppy disc in either IBM wordperfect or ascii format. I can also currently
receive information on Internet. If the latter are not possible, I will
eagerly accept articles in written format.
I encourage you to provide me with any article on any aquatic plant
related topic: aquascaping, propagation, lighting, CO2, substrates,
fertilization, filtration, etc., etc. An article previously published by a
local club would be fine. Unpublished material would be even better!
Please get back to me soon and let me know to what extent you can be
involved. I will be happy to provide additional details and look forward to
your response.
Sincerely, Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 17, 1990
Dear Dale,
Thanks for the article and for the quick response to my request.
I would be interested in hearing some more about the cost effective use of
house plant fertilizers. In particular, our members should be interested in
the need for and potential disadvantage of the nitrogen and phosphorus
components of the product you mention. Some advocate avoiding these elements
to avoid encouragement of algae. I suspect that in the small quantities that
you mention, you would get enough iron, without significant N or P to worry
about. Perhaps you could send be a brief additional note. I could either
include your comment in an editorial introduction to the article, or let you
expound upon the subject in more detail as a follow up.
The first issue of the magazine is still scheduled for January. I plan to
include minimal information about committees, but may mention committees that
are currently in place. What should we say about the function and goals of the
Technical Advisory Committee.
Do you have a computer? If so, I would appreciate future submittals on a 5 1/2
" floppy disc.
Thanks again for the submittal. Keep them coming. Hope to hear form you soon.
10/22/90
************FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE************
The Aquatic Gardeners Association (AGA) is now accepting memberships. The
annual dues are $15.00 for the United States, Canada & Mexico; $28.00 for other
countries (payable in U.S. currency). Membership applications and other
inquiries should be mailed to Dorothy Reimer, 83 Cathcart St., London, Ontario,
CANADA N6C 3L9.
The organization, formerly called the American Aquatic Gardeners
Association (AAGA), was founded in 1985 by Dick Van Hyfte of Palo, IA. After a
3-year lull (1988-1990), the specialty group has been enthusiastically revived
by a steering committee consisting of Neil Frank of Raleigh, NC; Jare Sausaman
of Philadelphia, PA and Dorothy Reimer of London, Ontario. Unexpired 1988
memberships from the predecessor organization will be honored by the new
association. The Aquatic Gardeners Association is dedicated to disseminate
information about aquatic plants, to study the culture of aquatic and bog
plants and to promote the aesthetics of planted aquaria and ponds.
Neil Frank is the new editor for AGA's bimonthly publication, "The Aquatic
Gardener." The first issue is scheduled for January 1991. Articles submitted
for publication should be directed to Neil Frank, 6205 Lookout Loop, Raleigh,
NC 27612.
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 26, 1990
Dear Dorothy,
I received your package and have sent out your letters to the three magazines.
I decided to attach an additional "press release," which adds a little more
information. I hoped that this would make it easier for them to say more about
us. It is enclosed. In the remainder of the letter, I have grouped my random
thoughts under headings to facilitate navigation.
Unexpired memberships
Note the comment in the press release about unexpired AAGA memberships. If we
can't precisely determine the expiration month for the membership, I think that
we could tell everyone that it will be April 1991, (unless they send you
information that says otherwise).
Computer Network
I also posted the AGA information on the computer network that I told you
about. I expect that you should soon be receiving applications for membership
from these guys. By the way, did you ever hear from Fred Kratky; he said that
he would get in touch with you to help you to "electronically" send me stuff.
Money from Dick
I talked to Dick last weekend, told him that we were almost ready to start up
again. He knows that Jare is working on setting up the account. After I
expressed my concern that Jare might not get through the bureaucracy in time,
Dick volunteered to send me a $300. check to cover the cost of printing and
mailing the first issue. (I think that the cost should be around $1.10 - $1.20
per person, including printing and mailing). Membership list - letter to old
members
It is now time to send a letter to the old members of the AAGA. This letter
should come from you. If Jare hasn't established the account, I suggest that
you contact Dick and ask for $50 - $100 or so, to cover the cost of your
mailing, including envelopes and stamps. Since the word is getting out about
the new Aquatic Gardeners Association, the old members shouldn't be the last to
know, right?
With this letter you could include a "membership application." It could be a
simplified version of the one AAGA used and which we talked about in Chicago.
It could also allow them to indicate their interest in receiving future
mailings/publications. (We could even say that unless we hear back from them,
they will not get the next mailing!!! - what do you think?)
On the application, you can also have a space for personal information,
talents, interest in getting involved, etc. I would be happy to help you with
this. However, I don't think that creation of this "application" should hold
up the letter.
Send me a updated mailing list when you have it ready. A 5 1/2" computer
diskette in IBM format (dBase) or mailing labels is fine, whichever is more
convenient. The mailing label should eventually contain the membership
expiration date.
Column for the magazine
I want you to write a regular "membership chair's" column for the magazine -
probably, less than one page, per issue. It can discuss our membership status
and any other items you think are pertinent. You could even include
information about the inquiries you receive about the organization and even
about your appearances at aquarium societies. In addition, I would like to
publish all of our initial members and addresses in the first issue. I would
like to then periodically add the new members. Of course, you could welcome
them to the organization under your column.
Also think about writing another column: "The Dorothy Reimer Method." In each
issue you could quickly write something (short) about your involvement in the
plant hobby. For example - your use of chicken grit or the type of filtration
you use. I would be very happy to work with you and help you in any way I can
- organization of ideas, editorial help, etc. If you send me something rough, I
could formalize it, if you like.
Another column I just though about is a question and answer format. I imagine
we will start receiving questions. All of us could participate in coming up
with the answers. We can then publish this in the magazine.
Reprints
Thanks for the reprints. They are in my growing file. I may need to talk to
you some more about the source of these articles. In some cases, the magazine
is not indicated, and the date of publication is missing. I would prefer to
indicate the year of publication.
Also, thanks for the Canadian Fish Fanciers. Jim Robinson's article on
aquarium plants would be good reprint material. This article was part 3 - do
you have the other parts? Also, more importantly, do you know Robinson. We
would need his permission or that from the publishers. He might also may have
original articles to contribute.
Non-profit Status and Bulk Mail Permit
I have looked into both of these items and have determined that we could save
money by getting a bulk mail permit for the US. This would make sense if we
were going to do 12 mailings per year (6 magazines on the odd months and 6
different mailings on the other months) and if the majority of our members are
still in the US. For $60 per year we can reduce mailing costs for both letters
and up to 3 ounce publications to 16.5 cents. This would save us 8cents per
letter or 29-49 cents per magazine. It also avoids licking stamps. We could
have the permit printed for the US deliveries. Unfortunately, it doesn't help
with Canada.
My suggestion is to wait to see if we are going to do a "Plant and Materials
Listing" I think that I would have a volunteer for this job. What do you
think? If we decide to do this, then I think that we should get the bulk
permit.
If we decide to use bulk mail, an even better idea is to get not-for-profit
status. I looked over the regulations, and it seems to me that we would
qualify as a horticultural organization whose purpose is to improve the
knowledge regarding the cultivation of aquatic plants. (There is a special IRS
category for agricultural and horticultural organizations).
Unfortunately, the IRS filing fee (one time) is $160. If we think that the
organization is going to last at least 2-3 years, it would be worth it. (of
course, we think that the organization is going to last, or we wouldn't be
involved, right?) With nonprofit status, we would still need the annual post
office permit, but then the US mailing fees drop to 8 cents per mailing. This
would give us the luxury to use the mail for different things. If we decide to
do the Plant and materials Listing, then I think that we should apply for
nonprofit. The only thing that we will need is a constitution. Can you look
at the one that I sent you, make the necessary changes and send it back to me
to for my final review. I think that we should keep it simple.
That's all for now, so I can get it to the post office.
Neil
cc. Jare
October 26, 1990
Jare -
This is a separate note for you. Because of your vast experience with aquarium
publications, I want your input on some things specifically dealing with the
publication.
Title of the publication will be the same as before - "The Aquatic Gardener"
I am trying to get the drawing of the lace plant and continue to use it as the
logo. I will make appropriate changes in the cover format.
I shall number the next issue, as issue number 1 of a new Volume 3 or 4
(whatever is one more than where we left off).
Should we say something on the cover page to indicate that this is the
"premier" issue of the revised publication?
I would like to change the format to Buntbarshe Bulletin style. I think that
this would give us a completely different look and probably arrive better
through the mails. What do you think?
Initially, it will be photocopied. If the number of copies ever gets to be
400-500 or more, we can afford printing. I will use a heavy paper for the
cover. I am looking into affordable alternatives for 20 pound copy paper. I
want the magazine to have a decent appearance.
Eventually, I want to include black and white photos. I will have to find
people to supply them.
Page numbering - should the outside cover page be pages 1 and 2?
Should the pages be numbered consecutively among issue numbers within volume,
or should issue 2 start over with page 1?
Do you have any more thoughts about reprint articles?
Do you know if the old stuff is still copyrighted?
Let me know what other suggestions you have.
Also let me know what you think of the things in the letter to Dorothy -
regarding bulk mail, constitution, etc.
P.S. I never got to meet with Klee. His plans changed.
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 26, 1990
Dear Bruce,
There are two opportunities to immediately get involved with the Aquatic
Gardeners Association (AGA).
The first is to submit an article for "The Aquatic Gardener." I be most
interested in learning, for example, about your techniques for propagating
plants.
The second is to become our HAP liaison, the link to the Horticultural Award
Program (HAP) Chairs from local Aquarium Societies and the Federation of
American Aquarium Societies (FAAS). I am hoping that this activity will help
publicize the group and get me articles for the publication. This position did
not exist under the old organization, but I think it is important.
As I see it, this job will establish communications with the existing network
of serious plant hobbyists. Some of them may have been members of the original
AAGA. Through them, we can help publicize the existence of the AGA, and from
them we can receive articles that have been published in local aquarium society
publications. We can then selectively distribute them nationally, through our
publication. I am not a member of the AKA, but I suspect that this
organization also has a lot of plant keepers. This may be another logical
organization with which to make contact.
Mary Lou Rogers is the HAP chairperson for FAAS. Her address is 2212 Lakeside
N.W., Canton, OH 44708. If you are interested in this "job," write her a
letter (on behalf of the AGA) and find out what information she can provide and
if she has a list of the HAP chairs from local societies. With this in hand,
you can decide how they should be approached to accomplish our goals. Let me
know what you think.
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 26, 1990
Dear Paul,
I was glad to hear from you and to receive your article. I totally agree
with your request to have The Aquatic Gardener in an improved format. I also
plan to include illustrations, if I can get any. Line drawings and black and
white photographs can easily be incorporated. Hopefully, some of our members
will be able to provide the pictures.
I had not previously heard the idea about reducing the AGA membership fee
in return for articles. I know that this approach is used with other
organizations, so perhaps it would be worth a try. I will discuss it with the
others. I also agree that it would be a good idea to get the members involved
in "research." If you want to submit some ideas, we can publish them in the
magazine.
I guess I wasn't clear when I said I could read 5 1/2" floppy diskettes.
Unfortunately, I can't read a disk formatted for the Apple. Check with your
schools computer center to see if they support Internet or Bitnet. This is a
computer network that links thousands of colleges and universities throughout
the world. Through this network, you could electronically send me text files
at no charge.
We have set the following dues for the new orgainization: $15.00 for the
United States, Canada & Mexico; $28.00 for other countries (payable in U.S.
currency). Membership applications should be mailed to Dorothy Reimer, 83
Cathcart St., London, Ontario, CANADA N6C 3L9. Hopefully, you got back your
check for $12.00.
Sincerely, Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 27, 1990
Dear Bob,
I am starting to pull together the first issue of "The Aquatic Gardener."
Since I am changing its format to 5 1/2" to 8 1/2", I decided to retype your
article, "Flower and Seed Production in Cryptocoryne." I want to include it in
the first issue (January 1991). As I was typing and reading, some questions
came to me. Some of the answers will probably be brief, while others could be
topics for future articles. I also wondered if I were crazy to be retyping an
error free manuscript.
You indicate that you suggest the use of rainwater. As you know, rainwater is
quite acidic in the midwest. Is the low pH and high sulfate concentration of
rainwater a concern?
There is variation in the spectrum among flourescent lights. What brand
"Gro-Lux" and full spectrum bulbs do you use?
There are some that advocate not using glass covers over aquaria filled with
water, in order to reduce potential attenuation. I do not yet know to what
extent attenuation occurs. I wondered if you had any ideas on this subject,
when I read that you use covers to maintain humidity. What do you use for the
cover (e.g. single strength or double strength glass)? Do you think that glass
has an effect on the light produced by flourescent lamps? Do you think that
glass covers have an effect on the light reaching submerged plants in an
aquarium?
What are your experiences in growing crypts in submersed form?
Do you have an original of your drawing, to permit a clearer reproduction for
the magazine. I would like to indicate the source - is it your original or is
it from a publication? Kindly give me a title for the figure.
Sincerely,
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 29, 1990
Dear Dick,
Can you please send me your lace plant artwork or let me know if you do
not have it. I must know its status, so I can proceed with the preparation of
"The Aquatic Gardener." If I need to look for other artwork for the cover, I
must know this now. There are a million things that I am currently doing and I
can't afford to be short on time.
Also, another very important item is the check for $300 to cover the cost
of printing and mailing the first issue. If you haven't already done so,
please make it out and get it in the mail today.
Let me know if there will be a delay.
Sincerely,
P.S. Announcements for the revival of the organization and for the January
1991 issue of TAG have been sent to FAMA, TFH, Aquarium Fish and FAAS. A copy
of the press release is enclosed. Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
October 29, 1990
Mike -
I still need those things that I wrote you about a few months ago:
1. Your plant article voted best by FAAS
(Our first issue of the journal is scheduled for January 1991)
2. Your committment to the Aquatic Gardeners Association
(Will you be rare and unusual species committee chair?)
3. Plant price list for aquarium club and/or retail shop
Please respond soon. Let me know about life in the plant business.
Sincerely, Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
November 4, 1990
Dear Dale,
I just came across your HAP report on Crypt affinis in The Calquarium. I think
that it is worthy of reprinting in The Aquatic Gardener. Do you have any
objections? If not, do you have other articles that could also be used as
reprint material. In most cases, I would only use articles previously
published if I don't have enough original material. I want to build up a
library of previously published club material to (1) have a cushion for TAG to
fall back on, (2) to recirculate good information on plants and (3) to have one
publication in which to find this information.
Do you have illustrations or photos of aquatic plants that I could use in TAG.
I have come across some good line drawings in a few aquarium books (e.g. H.C.D.
de Wit., Aquarium Plants) and am requesting permission from the publisher. I
am a little reluctant to use them without permission. Of course, I would give
credit to the source. Do you think formal permission is necessary for this?
Sincerely, Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
November 4, 1990
Dear Bruce,
I was so glad to hear that you were interested. For lack of a better committee
title, I am calling your position "Aquarium Society Horticultural Liason."
I was also glad that you wrote, because in the last issue of the FAAS Report,
the Horticultural Award contact has been changed to Dave Knelson. His address
is 51 Kindling Cres, Sackville, N.S. Canada B4E 2V1.
For your submittal of AGA information to the AKA, I enclose a copy of a "press
release" that I prepared. Under Dorothy Reimer's cover letter, this was sent
to FAMA, TFH, Aquarium Fish magazines and to FAAS. Dorothy will be the contact
and will have information to send out in response to requests for membership.
I totally agree with your idea about a "beginners column." I had similar ideas
along these lines, but do not yet have a series of articles with which to
implement. I definitely want the journal to appeal to both the beginner and
advanced aquarist. In the first issue I am including an article by Mike
Trzonkowsky on his simple recipe for success. We may have to include several
articles along these lines, since there may not be one way to do it. Later on,
I would like to see some critical analyses to look for the common denomentators.
By the way, until you get your computer, I would be happy to type any of your
submittals. (Unless of course, you are like me and can hardly write anymore
without a PC!)
Sincerely,
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
November 9, 1990
Dear Jare and Dorothy:
Good News! Correction, GREAT NEWS!! I just received a $300 check from Dick, as
an advance on the publication costs. It was written on the old AAGA account.
I guess we are definitely set now.
Jare: How are you doing with establishing the AGA account?
I have been making a lot of progress on the January publication. I have been
getting prices from printers. I have been most recently working on the boiler
plate. I have adopted some things from the original TAG publication and some
from other society publications. Since this material includes policy and
society purpose, I request that each of you review it. Please mark it up and
make any needed changes, additions or deletions.
Note: I want our stated purpose to be consistent with the criteria for
establishing non-profit status.
Under IRS code 501(c)(5), Horticultural organizations may be tax exempt
(i.e. nonprofit) if their primary purpose relate to "techniques of
production,..., development of efficiency, or improvement of the grade of
products." Under 501(c)(7), social and recreation clubs, including hobby clubs
can also qualify. For these we must show evidence that fellowship exist
among members. "Members must be bound together by a common objective
directed towards pleasure, recreation and other nonprofitable purposes."
aquatic plant culturing techniques. I think this will justify non-profit
status, when and if we ever apply.
I have written several letters to publishers of aquarium books (U.S., England,
Holland), requesting permission to reprint illustrations. I think the
publication can benefit from good line drawings which can be found in the
literature. I briefly checked into copyright laws and it seems that approval
may be needed for anything published after 1934. Several societies appear to
reprint from books, but I don't feel comfortable without at least attempting to
get permission.
Jare: if you come across any pre-1934 stuff involving line drawings of plants
or planted aquaria, let me know (to see if I already have it), or send me a
good photocopy.
Dorothy: I enclose three membership checks from Raleigh (including one from
me). One is from Jim Bellina who was one of the 2 guys selling plants up at
the Chicago ACA convention. Coincidentally, he just moved to Raleigh.
I have been corresponding with Bruce Watts of California. He had been writing
to Dick, because he wanted to get involved in the AAGA. Dick referred him to
me. I offered him the "jobs" of writing articles for the journal and becoming
the "Horticulture Liaison with Aquarium Societies." I suggested the latter
position, in part, to get us previously published articles from the various
Horticultural Award Committees. He eagerly accepted both opportunities. I
hope the "appointment" is OK with the two of you. Let me know if your have any
ideas how we should handle the next "volunteer."
I got Lyle Marshall's phone no. and called him. He is undergoing chemo-therapy
and says that he is reasonably stable. He said that he was sitting on my
letter until he was in a better position to know if he could make a commitment.
He was very soft spoken on the phone, but he indicated that he would like to
do the Plant and Materials Listing. Since it had always been 1 page, he
thought this would be within his capabilities. he said that he can't bend over
the typewriter for too long.
What do you think about this. Do we want to do the P & L Listing? If so,
when. If we do one, I think that it should be on the even months (like trading
post) and that we should not start it before April.
Dorothy: Can you give Lyle a call and see how you feel about it.
Lyle is supposed to check his files for any useful publication materials. He
is also going to inventory back issues. He says he has a substantial number
(too many to ship to me) and has all issues except one. He says he would be
willing to do a mailing of back issue sales from Michigan. Once I get his
letter, I could advertise availability of back issues. I suggest selling them
for $2.00 each. Since we will have other (new) back issues in the future, I
should be the contact point listed in the magazine. I could then forward the
"orders" to Lyle for shipping.
Mike Korzeniewski sent me some HAP articles and indicated that he wants to be a
Committee Chair.
Dorothy: You know him - what do your think he should do?
Jare: any comments on the publication numbering conventions. If I don't hear
from you, the first issue of The Aquatic Gardener will be Vol. 4, No. 1, with
the 2 sides of the cover page counting as p.1 & 2. The cover for the first
issue will have a half-tone of a planted aquarium and hopefully will change
with each issue.
Jare: can you send me the first published issue of the AAGA publication, if
you have any extra. I don't seem to have it. Also, can you check your set and
let me know what issues were published. I want to confirm that I have all of
the others that were published.
Finally, I submit for your consideration an idea to solicit advertisers for the
TAG. I think that it can generate a lot of revenue and permit us to do more
with the publication. My feeling is that the better the publication, the more
members we will get and keep.
That's all for now.
Responses / Comments Needed on:
1. Boilerplate - policy
2. How to handle volunteers/next needed job
3. Publication numbering convention
4. List of published issue of TAG
5. P & L Listing - when and by whom
6. Selling of back issues thru Lyle
7. Approval and suggested changes to advertising plan:
a. Approval to print 40 extra copies of January 1991 TAG
b. Rates, combined with "corporate" membership
C Changes to Manufacturers list
Sincerely,
Advertising Proposal
I think that we should accept advertising from manufacturers, provided
that we charge enough to cover our expenses and to also make a reasonable
profit. This could be a useful fund raiser. I propose the following schedule.
3 issues 6 issues 6 issues
(1/2 year) (1 year) (1 year, including AGA
membership)
1 page $60 $100 $125
1/2 page $35 $60 $75
1/4 page $20 $35 $50
(These rates are based on an annual printing and mailing budget of
approximately $1200-$1500; - for 200-250 members. As our membership grows and
we need to print/mail more issues, we would have to adjust the rates upward or
reduce the allocated space to advertising. These rates are approximately
double those discussed in previous AAGA board correspondence.)
What do you think about these rates?
If we decide to do it, I would be willing to send a letter to prospective
advertisers - companies that make plant products - lights, fertilizers, CO2,
those that sell plants - companies in which our members are also interested. I
suggest that we wait until we can send them a copy of the first magazine. I
think that the investment in making extra copies for this purpose should pay
off. I have come up with a list of about 25. With this number, we wouldn't
need to invest too much at first. This would also keep it manageable. I request
your approval to print an extra 40 copies for this purpose. If you have any
ideas who different should be on the list, let me know. I came up with the
following:
Hawaiian Marine Imports (Eheim products)
Aquarium Products (Triton bulbs)
Hagen (filters, peat moss, etc.)
Sandpoint Aquarium Products (Controllers, filters)
Energy Savers Unlimited (lighting systems, plant food, carbonate hardness
controller)
Rainbow Lifegard Aquarium Products (lighting)
Horizon Growers Nursery (Tropica Aquarium Plants - danish)
Tetra Sales
J.P. Burleson, Inc. (Dupla Products)
Execufish (Execulite fixtures, bulbs, we-dry filters)
Discus Haven (RO filtration systems)
Innovate Corporation (Siporax filter material)
Joe Gargas (______________)
Hamilton Technology Corp. (lighting systems - fluorescent and metal halide)
Regal Discus (freshwater we-dry filters and RO units)
Rena (lighting supplies)
Python Products (water changer)
Aquarium Lights, Inc (complete line of aquarium lighting)
AquariumInstruments (monitoring products, incl. pH controllers)
DLS Aquatics (filters and lighting)
Biotype Life Support Systems (_____________)
Thiel Aqua Tech (_________________)
Delaware Aquatic Imports (plants)
Back to nature Filtration (RO units)
I would appreciate your responses as soon as possible.
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
Mike Kornzeniewski November 9, 1990
Dear Mike,
Thanks for your articles and your offer to help. Dorothy, Jare and I
haven't yet determined what committee should be filled next. Either she
or I will be getting back to you real soon. By the way, in case you
didn't realize it, I was one of the others at the ACA in Chicago, who was
talking about reviving the AGA. In fact, I enlisted Dorothy!
Now, back to your articles. They were great and the type of material
I want to include in The Aqutic Gardener. I have 3 brief questions:
First, is something missing from the 4th paragraph. You say "With regular
pruning,...against the plant developing into a small undernourished
forms." Was a line of text dropped between the last 2 words?
Second, what address should I include with your article when I publish it
in TAG.
Third, are your articles on an IBM compatible computer. If so, could you
send me a 5 1/2" diskette in either ascii/dos format or wordperfect
format. This would save me a lot of typing. Also, if you have such
capability, would you be willing to help with the typing for those articles
which I receive in hard copy.
Finally, thanks for the GDAS bulletin. I was wondering who was
sending it.
Sincerely, Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
November 17, 1990
Dear Dale,
In response to your 9 Nov letter -
Regarding publication exchanges, I do not believe that AGA can afford to
exchange TAG with aquarium societies. In time, we would be expected to
exchange with 50 or more societies. This would cost us approximately $300
per year (printing and postage). Maybe in the future, we should consider
this. I would prefer to get reprint material directly from authors and others
who have access to club publications. Of course, AGA would provide
author's and society's copies when required.
Regarding reprinting of illustrations, I have received permission, so far,
from 2 publishers - TFH and Great Outdoors Publishing. Hopefully, I will
recieve others.
On a new subject, can you enlighten me about the technical journals that
deal with aquatic plants. Are there any that I should be looking at. I
can investigate them in the university library.
Sincerely,
P.S. Dorothy tells me that she has received at least 40 new memberships
to the AGA.
Neil Frank
6205 Lookout Loop
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 848-3763
November 17, 1990
Dear Mike,
Thanks for your recent letter and confidential comments. Also, thanks for
your over to help me with the typing and with transferring files to me on 5
1/2" wordperfect diskettes. I would give you plenty of lead time, say 1 month
or more. Accordingly, I enclose a few items on which you can get started.
Don't worry about grammar, etc. I will reformat into final form.
I, too, am not a botanist or even a biologist. I am just an aquarium keeper,
who has had a keen interest and fascination with aquatic plants ever since I
started in the hobby almost 40 years ago. I got involved with the management
of the Aquatic Gardeners Association out of frustration with its inactivity and
not wanting it to die. No one else was willing to step forward. In fact, in
April of this year I had become temporary President. I received moral support
from Ron Wheeler and Ray Lucas (1988 board members) as well as from Dick Van
Hyfte, Joan Glasscock and Jare Sausaman (other board members). Unfortunately,
with the exception of Jare, no one was willing to do much more than answer
board letters. As you know, you can't run an organization on advice alone.
After shaking the bushes for several months, and almost giving up entirely, a
deal was struck in Chicago. I became editor (which was understood as being at
least as important as president), Dorothy agreed to take care of membership and
Jare to be treasurer. The three of us felt that we would do our best to get
the organization back on its feet, and as a "steering committee," we would try
to do without "president." So far we are doing fine. The first issue of The
Aquatic Gardener (the journal of the AGA), will be mailed out in early January.
I am finalizing it now. By the way, I hope this explanation clears up the
difference between AGA and TAG. And we did decide to drop American from the
old name. We go Dick Van Hyfte to agree. I originally brought up the idea.
Dorothy concurred that American is not synonymous with North American, but
instead tends to refer to the U.S. At least that was one Canadian's point of
view. We felt that the change would make the organization more international
and hopefully would allow us to attract more members.
When you overhear any new conversations about the credentials of the
steering committee, please refer the skeptics to me. But only, if they are
willing to help. We can definitely use more people. After several months of
operation, we probably will re-institute a board and adopt new bi-laws. For
now, our priority is to re-establish credibility by putting out a good
publication. This is what I promise to do.
Some of the names you mention have already been contacted. Bob Clark's
article on flowering crypts will be in the January issue of TAG. (Ron Wheeler
recruited him). I have already written a letter to Arie de Graaf (whom I had
the pleasure of meeting at the ICC in Orlando). Do you know him? I also wrote
to Barry james, with whom I had corresponded in the past. As you may know,
Barry was a co-founder of the International Society of Aquatic Plants in 1986
or 1987, but did not seem to get off the ground. Finally, I will be seeing Bob
Gasser next month in Florida. I may not keep that many plants, but until
someone else comes along, I will do the job. (By the way, I do maintain plants
in 10-12 tanks and am now building my first open plant tank, a 70g with 4-6
bulbs)
I believe that Dorothy will do a great job at recruiting new members. She
is not a scientist whose expertise is in identifying plant species, but from
what I have heard, she knows how to grow them. She has a love for plants and
to me that is more important than being fluent in Latin. Others in the
organization will help out on the technical side. Dale Speirs, for example, is
in charge of the Technical Advisory Committee. But Identifying plants will not
be his charge. Plant ID's is a real problem in the industry. Besides the
misnaming of plants, there are so many synonyms. In some cases, the plant may
come out of Florida as something like Echinodorus florida. One of the projects
I would like to see AGA tackle is to develop a guide which matches the plant
names the growers use vs. the names we see in the books. Of course, we
couldn't do this with plants that require flowers for positive ID's.
Tell me about Jim Langhammer. Ross Socolof mentioned Jim's name to me as
someone who I may want to approach for the AGA. I never met him.
I believe that the people who join the AGA may not necessarily know about
plants, at least at first. What is important is that they want to learn about
them. We will attract enough people who either know about them or know what
questions to ask. My interest deals more with the latter. One of the
functions of TAG will be to provide a forum for exchanging ideas, raising
questions and proving answers. Sometimes, we will publish opinions and will
see both sides of an issue presented. We will publish ideas for conducting
research to answer question; research that can be performed by hobbyists in the
laboratory of their fish room (or should I start saying plant room). We will
be debating some topics, that may never be resolved. We may also find that
there is not one way to grow plants, at least to the satisfaction of the
average hobbyist. The same is true for fish.
Moving to another important subject - I definitely want you to be part of
the team. I like your enthusiasm. However, I can't give you a specific job.
In part, because I don't know and can't decide by myself what is the next
priority. If you don't mind, just hang in there for now. If you have any
ideas, or hear about something that others think the organization needs, let me
know. You say that you have been involved in the hobby 25 years. Have you
been involved with other organizations? Obviously, you seem to be involved
with the AA.
Now that I see that I am on page 3, I must close this off. I don't have a
great source for plants. One is Swanee nursery near Tampa. I haven't ordered
from Delaware Aquatics in a few years. Mike used to have nice stuff, esp.
crypts. As far a conventions go, that is far off in the future, not for at
least 1 year,may be two. It all depends on the groundswell, and the amount of
criticism we may get. Let me know what you hear.
Sincerely,
P.S. Were those HAP articles you sent me previously published by GDAS. If so,
can you tell me when. When I reprint stuff, I like to date it. I had assumed
that you were sending me those HAP articles and to GDAS at the same time. I
will be including the Barclaya in the January issue. I even have a line
drawing to accompany the text. I will do it as a GDAS reprint if you prefer,
but it will come across better if it just had your name.
P.S.S. I would like to add one add'l detail to your Barclaya article - in what
depth water were they under the 2 48" lights. I can modify your text by
saying, "My bulbs were placed in ___ deep ___ gallon tanks, ... ." Please
write back quickly or call. Thanks._______________________________________________
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